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Blue Jackets' Peca has suspension cut to 5 games

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -Columbus Blue Jackets center Michael Peca's suspension for making contact with an official was cut to five games by the NHL on Friday.

Peca, who met with NHL officials on Thursday, was suspended for confronting an official after he thought he'd been slew-footed in the Blue Jackets' Oct. 10 season-opener at Dallas - subsequently grabbing the official's arm to argue his case.

Originally deemed a Category II penalty which requires a 10-game suspension, it was ultimately cut in half after the league looked at video of the offense.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says that Peca crossed a line.

Peca will forfeit more than $35,000 in pay before he is permitted to return Oct. 24 against the New York Rangers.